Marlene

Marlene, 36 years of age, is a very careful and hardworking woman. She lives in her mother’s house with her partner, the father of her 2 children, and they intend to marry. Every day they tend to the crops raised on their farm. Ever since she was little, Marlene wakes up at 4am to help her mother prepare lunch for the many laborers who work in the fields planting potatoes and peas. Along with her husband, not only does she help plant the crops, but she also sells them.

Marlene is a lighthearted woman who is very attentive to her customers. When her crops are ready to be sold, she is in charge of making deals with traders in the wholesale market, always looking to get the best price and generate more income. Meanwhile, her husband is responsible for taking orders and keeping track of the sacks of produce. With her potato crops, she prefers to ship them to the wholesale markets in Lima because she can earn bigger profits over there. The extra income helps to cover her food bill and her children’s education expenses. At a later point, Marlene thinks she should buy more farmland to increase her crop yield.

This is her tenth loan from MFP, and the payments from her previous loans have been on time. She tries not to miss her communal bank meetings, where she is regarded by the other group members. The money she requested will be used to buy chemical fertilizers for her crops of potatoes and peas.